Batman: Dark Patterns, Vol. 1

Batman: Dark Patterns (2024) #1-6

by Dan Watters, Hayden Sherman (Illustrator)

Experience some of Batman’s earliest case files as he delves into the most dangerous corners of Gotham City! Up against a devastating serial killer dubbed the "Wound Man," the Dark Knight is pushed to his physical and mental limits as the bodies pile up.

A new serial killer is terrorizing Gotham City, and his MO seems to be torturing his victims to death with surgical precision. But there’s more than just sadism at play, Batman soon realizes, and this newly christened "Wound Man" has more up his sleeve than just a brutal desire for violence.

Set in the early years of Batman’s career, Batman: Dark Patterns Vol. 1 pairs all-star creators Dan Watters and Hayden Sherman up to explore the mysteries that would go on to define the World’s Greatest Detective as we know him today.

Collects Batman: Dark Patterns issues #1-6.

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Batman, Graphic Novels, Superheroes, Graphic Novels Comics, Bande Dessinée

176 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2026

About the author

Dan Watters is a UK based comic book writer. His first book, LIMBO, was released through Image Comics in 2016. He has since written THE SHADOW at Dynamite Comics, and ASSASSIN’S CREED and WOLFENSTEIN for Titan Comics.

Currently he is writing the relaunch of LUCIFER for Vertigo’s Sandman Universe, as well as DEEP ROOTS for Vault Comics. Deeply rooted in London Town, and firmly of the Devil's party.

Reviews

[Brooke ☯︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Batman we needed... Violent attack dogs in Gotham, and a killer whose methods are very strange, tortuous, medieval, and clinically precise. A codex of all the brutal pain infliction that can be done to a body....but in the name of healing? The art is great, the story is very different from the Absolute series, which is also fun. Always fun to have a new take on the Batman. 🦇🟡

[Jim Ef · Rating 5 out of 5]

8.5/10
Two very different cases, equally challenging for different reasons. The certain thing is that Batman will have to put both his detective and fighting skills to work.

I loved this. The cases are interesting, the "villains" are well written with motives that make sense. Bruce is obviously smart and strong but not to an absurd degree.

In my review of Absolute Wonder Woman, i said that Sherman's art was good, but for me, it didn't match the story. Here however, their art style fits perfectly.

I am truly excited for vol. 2.

[Molly™☺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Patterns gets to be different, untethered to continuity and the current state of the universe, and this works in its favour. Watters is allowed to tell interesting detective stories with familiar faces and a grittier tone that is often lost amongst many mainline titles. Whilst this is not necessarily ground level, Gotham is always the most interesting when focusing on the regular citizens and how they get involved and intertwined with the chaos. In many ways, this is similar in tone to Gotham Central, but from Batman’s perspective rather than that of the GCPD. Both stories presented here are good reads, making this an easy recommend, especially for crime genre enthusiasts.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9 stars

[Spencer Gilliland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard rumblings about Dark Patterns as some sort of incredible masterwork. I am happy to confirm that it is, without a doubt, incredible. It’s Batman exactly as I love him— a skilled detective knee deep in gothic, sci-fi nonsense trying his best not to get killed. The tales here are incredibly interesting and macabre. The art is spectacular. Just… wow man. Not perfect, but this series just warms the cockles of my heart.

[Dustin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5, rounded up.

This is the best new Batman comic series I've read in many years. I gave up on the regular monthly titles some years ago, but this newer series set only a few years into Batman's career has excellent writing, and very cool art backing it up. The first two arcs collected here involve a new character called Wound Man who was quite horrific, and a really cool Scarface story as well. Looking forward to seeing where this series goes.

[Frédéric · Rating 4 out of 5]

In these times of ultra-decompressed storytelling, where authors take six issues to tell a story that could have been told in half the pages, I greatly appreciated the concept of three-issue story arcs.
No time wasted, Watters gets straight to the point with an old-school detective Batman—probably from years earlier than the regular series—investigating a particular case.

The storytelling is fully supported by Sherman's artwork, which shows great creativity. While the first story is a little weak in terms of plot and resolves itself a little too easily—the downside of three issues is that sometimes you have to use shortcuts—the second is really good and allows Sherman to indulge in bold and brilliant composition.

It was a podcast that spoke highly of this series that prompted me to try it. I was right to follow their advice.

[Ignacio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Watters y Hayden Sherman consiguen hacer historias de Batman que parecen nuevas. Primero, dando a los dos arcos argumentales aquí recogidos una vertiente social; el primero un poco visto pero conectándolo con el segundo a través de un tema de calado en la sociedad occidental: cómo afecta el problema de la vivienda a las clases menos favorecidas. Y después, quitando el freno en el uso de los villanos, profundizando en lo quimérico de su construcción (genial ese Scarface del segundo arco), extendiendo su acción a un plano metafísico, actores de una violencia que dota de matices sucios a argumentos de esa moralidad ambigua que debería estar en la mayoría de historias del personaje pero se suele perder por el camino. El resultado son unas páginas donde Batman es sobre todo testigo de lo que está mal en la sociedad y los monstruos que produce, muy 2000 AD.

A destacar el dibujo de Hayden Sherman. Muy inspirado en las composiciones de página aunque las secuencias que crea sean en ocasiones gratuitas, y en su representación del personaje y de Gotham. Aquí subrayar la importancia del color de Triona Farrell, que redondea la oscuridad de un tebeo que puede disfrutar cualquiera que alguna vez disfrutara con las historias de Batman.

[Luke Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely stellar all around.

[Jannik Fogt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ret fed Batman-tegneserie med silverage vibes. Handler om en ung Bruce Wayne der i starten af sin selvtægtskarriere fungerer mere som detektiv end som superhelt. Tegneserien er formmæssig stringent; fire historier fordelt på 12 issues med 3 issues til hver historie. Hver historie har en ny skurk og i den sidste historie bindes alle fire historier sammen.

Jeg fandt den første historie med skurken "Wound man" og den sidste med skurken "Child of Fire" som de mest vellykkede. Pacingen er god og spændingen holdes højt. Batmans dystre voiceover sender tankerne hen på Rorschach fra Watchmen og supplerer illustrator Hayden Shermans slummede Gotham-vision virkelig fedt.

Jeg vil meget gerne læse mere af Dan Watters.

[Tom Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

RULES. Easily some of the best Batman stories created at least this decade if not beyond. They're pretty grisly at times but they get to the heart of Batman as a noir detective in ways no other book has been able to recently. Dan Watters' Batman is totally ideal. The World's Greatest Detective but you always feel the actual person underneath. Hayden Sherman was already on my radar for his Absolute Wonder Woman stuff but his work here is this gorgeous cross between Tim Sale and J.H. Williams III. The whole team is doing off-the-charts work. Now to start the hoping and praying that DC will give us more.

[Axel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leído en el AVE de ida y vuelta. Me habría gustado que ambas historias hubieran tenido un poco más de tiempo, pero entiendo la limitación del formato y aún así creo que están muy bien. Me gustan mucho las historias de Batman que son pequeños misterios cortos estilo "villain of the week". En la segunda sobre todo me han gustado las migajas de un elemento sobrenatural. Gotham es una ciudad viva. Sus calles y sus avenidas y sus edificios hablan, y es una parte tan importante del mito de Batman como sus personajes.

Y el arte es INCREÍBLE.

[doma⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

(the whole series)
„There will be a fire tonight in gotham city. There always has been." the finale felt a bit rushed and not as impressive as i thought it would be but overall it was an amazing story, fire being a metaphor for gotham's nature is just ahhh

[Tom Zilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up.
These 2 stories are like R-rated BTAS episodes, with some interesting new villains.

[Samuel Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

8/10

Great time to be a batman fan. This is how i like my batman, detectivy and physically vulnerable. Fantastic stories and perfectly matched art. Hoping for a vol 2

[Jem · Rating 5 out of 5]

issues 1-6: 5/5
issues 7-12: 4/5

the wound man is probably one of the best character designs in recent DC

[James De Leon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent set of stories. The first one, dealing with the wounded man, wasn’t my favorite… if this is meant to be more of a detective, ground Batman story, this felt a bit too fantastical.

The second one, with Scarface, picks things up a bit. I’m always game for a story with the dummy.

[Keegan Schueler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Modern version of legends of the dark knight and really hope they keep this series going.

[Justin Biondo · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Batman books out right now

[Kurt Lorenz · Rating 5 out of 5]

#1-3, We Are the Wounded, ☆☆☆☆☆
#4-6, The Voice of the Tower, ☆☆☆☆

I expect this series will receive a lot more acclaim when a deluxe edition comes out containing all 12 issues. There aren't many series nowadays that stick to tight 3-issue stories, but Dark Patterns does it impeccably, delivering phenomenal art and writing issue after issue. I'm very much looking forward to the two stories in volume 2.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ciudad Arkham: El Orden del Mundo ya me enganchó a todo lo que Dan Watters pudiese escribir sobre Batman y, sobre todo, Gotham City. En aquella miniserie básicamente planteó un "Razas de Noche de Clive Barker" con varios pacientes fugados y una "llamada" aparentemente sobrenatural sobre la misma fundación retorcida de la ciudad que custodia el murciélago. En su etapa de Nightwing en ALL IN, Watters también parece querer integrar a la historia de Dick Grayson una presencia realmente ominosa ligada a su pasado circense. Y ya a cargo de una colección propia de Batman, el autor consigue formular una propuesta indudablemente perfecta de querer disfrutar de ese lado más oscuro y perturbador del personaje y la ciudad que le rodea.

Patrones Oscuros nos traslada a los primeros años de actividad de Bruce Wayne como Batman, aún no conociendo del todo los recovecos de esta urbe aparentemente condenada ya sea por el crimen sin fín o algo realmente siniestro y sobrenatural que provoca un sin fín de eventos terribles de los que Bruce trata de mantener a raya o acabar con los que puede en sus límites humanos. Justamente el primer arco argumental parece desafiar totalmente esto presentando un nuevo enemigo realmente terrible y perturbador que busca infligir una dolorosa justicia que se puede comprobar en su propio cuerpo. Tengo que decir que es curioso que Watters y el autor de los números recientes de Green Arrow hayan coincidido en una trama similar de trama urbanística en la que poner en peligro a residentes con elementos tóxicos del lugar, por lo que quien sobrevive busca venganza . Pero es cierto que en la colección protagonizada por el Arquero Esmeralda se busca una resolución que cale más en lo discursivo y en Patrones Oscuros, Dan Watters hiere hasta el tuétano con la presencia de El Hombre Herido.

Y si en la presentación de la colección descubríamos un nuevo enemigo. El 2º arco resignifica uno más conocido de la galería del Batverse como hacía tiempo que no se disfrutaba con este personaje que tan perturbadoras posibilidades ofrece desde su retorcido reino psicológico. Atendiendo a la situación que escala en peligro por momentos de una inminente carga policial a un edificio que está siendo amenazado con expulsar a los desesperados residentes. Batman va descubriendo una amenaza más preocupante que el torpe secuestro de una de las patrulleras que han ido a investigar el lugar. El edificio tiene sus propias reglas en una arquitectura que trasmite mejor ecos de pura paranoia. Y alguien se está aprovechando de ello para trascender su patético cuerpecito a unos materiales más sólidos e inexpugnables. En otra demencial historia con ecos "Barkerianos", este "edificio viviente" arroja sus particulares "anti cuerpos" ante la amenaza a su sistema que supone el Caballero Oscuro. Pura tensión en la que el trabajo a los lápices de Hayden Sherman también promueven interesantes juegos de construcción (sic.) de composición de viñetas que contribuyen a la sensación claustrofóbica y pesadillesca. El color de Tríona Farrell también refuerzan la estética hiper marcada oscura y tenebrista que hace destacar Batman: Patrones Oscuros como una excelente nueva lectura del personaje.

[Gary Sassaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book flew under my radar last year as it was being published in monthly form. I was aware of it at my local comics shop, but never even looked at it, so this collected version is a bit of a revelation for me. While Dan Watters’ scripts lean a little too much into horror for me, Hayden Sherman’s art is the real attraction here. I was familiar with his work from reading the first issue of Absolute Wonder Woman when it came out (full disclosure: the Absolute line is decidedly not my cup of tea and I fully admit it’s an issue of where I am in my life these days), but he should be permanently assigned to a Bat-book (preferably Detective Comics, if I had my way). His art is somewhere in a Venn diagram of Tim Sale, Paul Pope, and Carmine Infantino, all inspirations to him which he admits in an interview feature at the back of this book. I found the format of this 12-issue maxi-series interesting, too: four 3-part stories that are interconnected. I guess the original plan was to have four separate artists, but Sherman pitched himself as doing the whole thing, and editor Adrianna Turturro thankfully went along with it (she also edited the excellent if awkwardly titled Batman The Long Halloween: The Last Halloween last year). While a little too horror-centric for me (and featuring my least favorite Bat-villain, Scarface, in one of the stories), I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to see more Hayden Sherman Batman in the future.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series reads like a compilation of unreleased Batman: The Animated Series episodes in the best way possible. Most of Batman's lines I heard in my head as if read by Kevin Conroy, and it felt fitting to his interpretation of the character, but that could just be personal bias. The tone hits a lot of similar notes, with the cast focused on Batman, Alfred, Commissioner Gordon, and whatever characters are pertinent to the story at hand. Of the 2 stories covered in this first volume, there aren't any big-name villains featured (unless you consider Scarface a prominent baddie in Batman's Rogues Gallery; I love the character, but I know he's probably a C-lister). This leaves the space open for originality, something that Batman can at times feel lacking in, so it's nice to have a series that doesn't lean so earnestly on the predictable enemies Batman is often pushed up against. Even Scarface is taken in a clever direction that expands the character in inventive ways.

The art is great across the board, and the writing and style feel perfect for the types of tales being told. This doesn't hit a 5 mostly because I've personally enjoyed other Batman comics more, but I do think this is a top-tier Bat-book that I could recommend to nearly anyone.

[Clint · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This listing specifies 1-6, but I’m reviewing issues 1-12, which don’t seem to have a GR entry yet)

DaNi is my favorite artist paired with Watters but Sherman might be a close second. His panels are strikingly imaginative, his faces and character shapes have a distinct look that I love, and his shadows in these issues are so different from his great Wonder Woman art but perfectly fitting for Gotham nights. The overall effect reminds me of a smartly modernized version of my impression of what the best late 80s/early 90s Batman comics looked like (having not read any of those yet).

Watters’s writing similarly reflects the tone and focus on street-level detective work haunted by hints of the supernatural that I associate with those same late 80s Batman stories. He writes four 3-issue arcs that each stand up on their own, while also sneakily telling an overarching story centered on cleansing fire and weary disintegration for a younger, less experienced Batman. I’d love to see this pair create more Batman stories like these.

[Ryan Malik · Rating 5 out of 5]

If BATMAN: THE LAST HALLOWEEN didn't live up to your expectations, then you need, need, NEED to read BATMAN: DARK PATTERNS. It consists of several story arcs, comprised of three or four issues each. And each one is a dark, psychological mystery. Perhaps the single best part of this series is Dan Watters's reinterpretation of classic villain Firefly. We don't see him in his fire suit, just in Arkham whites with his face severely burned, providing insight into the investigation much like Calendar Man did in THE LONG HALLOWEEN. Here, Firefly is no longer just a gimmicky villain; he's a twisted psycho who gets under your skin. His Firefly now joins the great reinterpretations of characters like Calendar Man and Mr. Freeze, who was brilliantly reimagined by Paul Dini for BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES. Hopefully, Watters and artist Hayden Sherman aren't finished in Gotham because we need more of their stories.

[Ale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compré esta obra casi a ciegas, arrastrado por las recomendaciones y por ese tan repetido calificativo de “callejera”. Y sí, en parte encontramos un Batman más rudo, investigador, con casos que se relacionan directamente con los ciudadanos de Gotham. Pero también me ha sorprendido el notable componente fantástico que atraviesa la historia.

Se habla de oscuridad, de crudeza, de un tono realista… y lo cierto es que esperaba algo más cercano a eso (dentro de lo posible, claro, teniendo en cuenta que hablamos de un hombre disfrazado de murciélago). Quizá el problema haya estado en mis expectativas, en esa búsqueda constante de obras que se acerquen al espíritu de The Batman de Reeves.

Aun así, la lectura resulta entretenida y se deja llevar. Puede que me anime con el segundo volumen, aunque ya sin esperar tanto.

[Gosha The Consumer of Comics · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review is for all 12 issues, as 7-12 don't have a single volume on Goodreads).

Insanely good, a true modern classic that will find its place into various "must read Batman" comics. I simultaneously hope that it will and that it won't get a sequel of some kind. Or that at least the creative team will be reunited for some another project again.

The plot? The Bat solves crimes, the World's Greatest Detective does what he does best. I don't want to spoil anything, just be prepared for some disturbing stuff and down-to-Earth scale.

The art? I'm not a comic book art expert, but it gave me some retro Long Halloween vibes. It's just beautiful, the panel composition, the characters, the little details. Loved it. But the best part? The eyes. Oh my god, those eyes.

I highly recommend every Batman enjoyer to explore this series, it's a must read.

[Alejandro Casanova vázquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente tomo, creo que se agradece una historia sin grandes pretenciones ni batallas cósmicas donde se juegue el destino de la humanidad o algo por el estilo, solo una historia con los clásicos elementos de Batman: género negro, terror y un poco de ciencia ficción. La obra nos narra el tercer año de Bruce Wayne como Batman y un par de casos que no dejan indiferentes al lector, a pesar de su sencillez. Resulta muy grato leer a un Batman humano, investigando de un lado a otro, colaborando con la policía de Ciudad Gótica y "villanos" con un trasfondo detrás de sus actos. Curiosamente, los villanos resultan ser más víctimas de las grandes corporaciones e incluso la gentrificación. Además, el dibujo de Hayden Sherman le queda perfecto. Muy buena saga, espero con ansia leer las siguientes entregas.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is peak Batman in my opinion. Short grounded story arcs where his detective work is on full display. No fighting space gods or 15 foot tall scientific abominations (cough Absolute Batman cough), just regular hoods who occasionally get the best of him. Even the outlandish “wound man” isn’t really the villain, it’s the corrupt businessman who created him.

Sherman’s art steals the show, their Batman is timeless, and the colors are fantastic. I’ve already picked up some of their other works and I’m looking forward to the conclusion of Dark Patterns. I’m happy to see Sherman getting work on Absolute titles but DC needs to let them do more of this Batman.

[Zac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished the 12 single issues so this will be a review of everything - but no spoilers. Loved the format - 4x 3-issue detective stories within a larger, overarching story. Great, disturbing new villains. Great art and colours, though the covers weren't that exciting. The layouts were pretty unusual - some strange geometric shapes in place of grids and I'm not sure what purpose they served but it was interesting I guess. I love it when Batman is solving crimes and encountering weirdos and not just beating people up.